A young woman who became ill on a flight home with her boyfriend from South Africa after the couple had just got engaged has died.

Majella Donoghue, 30, described as “vivacious and kind-hearted”, was attended to by her fiance, Barry Doherty and flight staff, when she suddenly became seriously ill on the flight from Capetown to London Heathrow.

When the plane touched down on Sunday, an ambulance was waiting to rush her to hospital.

Miss Donoghue, from Tirrane, Belmullet, on the Erris Peninsula in Co Mayo, died later in hospital with grief-stricken Barry by her side as well as a family member who had rushed over from Ireland.

It is understood an autopsy has been carried out but the results are not yet available. Her remains are still in London.

In the past few days, people have been flocking in large numbers to the Donoghue household to sympathise with the family, her mother, Mary, twin brother, Stephen, brothers, Tommy, David and Brendan and her sister, Angela.

Majella worked as a Talent Acquisition Specialist at Galway City based firm, Boston Scientific, reports the Irish Mirror .

Local priest Fr John Loftus said the community was numbed by the sudden death of a woman who was “pleasant, considerate and kind".

He added: “Just to meet Majella would put you in good form.”

Fr Loftus explained that Majella was always mindful of her family, travelling home frequently to visit and help mother, Mary, attend to the cleaning and decorative needs of their Tirrane church.

“She had a social conscience,” he explained. “Her good deeds spanned the world. She worked in Vietnam on charity purposes at one stage.”

Local county councillor Gerry Coyle recalled that Majella worked in Costcutters Supermarket, Belmullet.

“She was highly thought of, very approachable,” the councillor recalled.

While in Capetown, Majella and Barry visited her godparents and the couple became engaged.

“What should be a very happy time for the family and community is now clouded in sadness,” Councillor Coyle stated.

For more than three years, Majella was a valued member of staff at Boston Scientific in Galway where here job title was Talent Acquisition Specialist.

She also worked as an Advocacy Volunteer for the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children as well as for the Christina Noble Children's Foundation.

In her earlier career days. Majella produced a documentary on Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club aimed at promoting Wolves and increasing their fanbase.